[tlb]

Worse than the small amount is the length of time it took. If you accept the accusations at face value, China has been spying on a large fraction of EU citizens for 4 years and can keep doing it for another 6 months (after which they probably won't actually stop) for the eventual fine of a few dollars per victim. The US isn't moving any faster, and most other countries aren't moving at all.

So the end result is that potentially hostile countries can run vast spying operations for a long time with no major consequences. As long as they do it with funny videos with annoying soundtracks.

[hbarka]

Does Meta or X get the same scrutiny or is this the China bogeyman?

[Macha]

Yes: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/23/tech/european-union-apple...

Meta has had multiple rounds of €xxxM fines already from the EU.

[platinumrad]

The EU is fairly consistent in its application of fines. I think what the poster is commenting on is that when Meta collects data it's "Meta is spying", but when ByteDance collects data it's "China is spying".

[input_sh]

X is rumored to be hit with a billion dollar fine soon(ish), so yes: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/03/technology/eu-penalties-x...

[ipaddr]

An American company following the laws does not get the scrutiny that another company working with a hostile government to eliminate your way of life does. Why would they? Are they somehow equal because they both can be downloaded in the social app category in the play store?

That's like asking why can I buy things from facebook marketplace but can't use my American credit card on vk.com?

[platinumrad]

I honestly don't think the Chinese government cares about my way of life.

[ipaddr]

They want to destabilize your government and change your system of government to communist. They don't care about you but they want power over you.